Robert c



(No Model.)

R. O. OAUGHEY.

WIRE SUPPORT.

No. 397,830. Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

M am 1 '1 WITNESSES:

ROBERT C. CAUGHEY, OF LEET, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO JOHN F. S. BOYD, JAMES E. ILLIAMSON, AND DANIEL E. ZINN, OF ALLEGHENY,

PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE=SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,830, dated February 12, 1889.

Application filed August 4, 1888.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT C. CAUGHEY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Leet township, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in ire-Supports, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in devices for the support of overhead conductors for electric railways, or of the wire or wire rope forming a wire way.

As heretofore constructed these support-s have formed a projection or bump at the points of application, which cause the trolley running along the wire to jump, and thereby, in the case of electric conductors, to break the circuit.

The object of the invention described herein is to provide a clamp of such character as will not present any obstacles to the smooth and regular movement of the trolley, and which can be readily applied to and removed from the wire and the supporting-bracket.

' In general terms, the invention consists in the construction and combination of mechanical devices or elements, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a clamp embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same.

The jawsl and 2 of my improved clamp are preferably formed of steel plates of sufficient width to obtain a comparatively broad hearing upon the wire. Along the inner faces of the jaws are formed grooves for the reception of the wire, and the outer walls of the jaws are curved and tapered, as shown, so that said outer walls will form a practical continuation of the surface of the wire in transverse directions, the grooves in the jaws being so 5 proportioned as to depth that the jaws will ext-end only partially around the wire.

Through the handle or shank 3 of one of the jaws,as 1, is formed a slot, 4, parallel with Serial No. 281,947. (No model.)

the jaws, and through said slot is passed the handle or shank 5 of the other jaw, thereby forming a hinge-joint of such character as to require a forcing of the handles or shanks toward each other in order to close the jaws upon the wire. Advantage is taken of this construction to secure the clamp upon the 5 5 bracket- 6, one of said shanks being provided with a longitudinal groove, 7, for the reception of the end of the bracket, which case of overhead conductors is separated from the shanks of the clamp by suitable insulating 6o material, 8. The jaws 1 and 2 and the shanks 0r handles 3 and 5 are drawn toward each other by bolts 9, passing through the shanks, as shown. The shanks and jaws are 0011- structed so that the jaws will be closed tightly upon the wire before the shanks are drawn sui'ficiently close together to grasp the end of the bracket, thereby permitting of the application and removal of the clamp from the bracket without releasing it from the wire.

' It will be observed that my improved de vice is practicallya double clamp, having two pairs of spring-jaws, one pair constructed to grasp the wire and the other to be attached to the bracket. It will also be observed that the j awsl and 2 are so constructed that while grasping the Wire sufficiently tight to prevent its displacement, they do not extend entirely around the wire, the upper portion being exposed and the walls of the jaws being so con structed as to gradually merge, as it were, into the wire and form a practical continuation of the surface thereof on opposite sides of its ex posed portions. The jaws 1 and 2 are tapered at their ends as regards the other surfaces, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the slight lateral displacement of the trolley will be gradual.

It will be understood that when the clamp is employed for supporting wire or wire ropes for wire ways the bracket need not be insu- 9o lated from the clamp.

I claim herein as my invention 1. The combination of a wire, a bracket or support, and a clamp provided with two pairs of movable jaws constructed to engage the 5 wire and bracket, substantially as set forth.

The combination of a wire, a bracket or support, and a clamp provided with two pairs of spring-jaws formed at opposite ends of the clamp and constructed to engage The wire engage the wire and bracket, respeetiveiy, 10 substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 5 and bracket, substantially as set forth. 1 3 r Y F y The combination of a wire, :1 bracket or g AL support, and a clamp formed of two parts or I \Vitnesees: members pivoted one upon the other, the op- \V. I). (JORWIN,

posiie ends of said parts being constructed to DARWIN S. iVoLcoT'r. 

